Dr. Harris leads NMSI's work improving STEM teacher development and student achievement. He's increased access to STEM education for three decades through the Harris Institute & Foundation and as a founding NMSI board member. Prior to NMSI, Dr. Harris was CEO and Managing Partner of Vesalius Ventures, Inc., a healthcare technologies venture capital firm. At NASA, Dr. Harris conducted musculoskeletal physiology research, led clinical investigations of space adaptation and developed in-flight medical devices to extend Astronaut stays in space. He logged over 438 hours and traveled over 7.2 million miles in space and was the first African-American to walk in space. He serves on the board of multiple organizations, including Barings Fund & Trust, the National Academy of Medicine and Texas Medical Center. He holds a BS in Biology from the University of Houston, an MMS from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, an MBA from the University of Houston and a DM from Texas Tech University School of Medicine. Dr. Harris was honored with the 2000 Horatio Alger Award and is the author of "Dream Walker: A Journey of Achievement and Inspiration."